Joao Pedro voted WAB January 2024 Brighton Player of the Month

February 13, 2024March 12, 2024 WeAreBrighton.com 0 Comments

Brighton failed to score a Premier League goal in January 2024, so it is FA Cup performances which have determined the winner of WAB Player of the Month – making Joao Pedro a somewhat obvious choice.

Pedro scored twice in the 4-2 third round win away at Stoke City. He followed that up with a hat-trick as the Albion crushed fellow top flight side Sheffield United 5-2 at Bramall Lane in round four.

That haul of five saw Pedro break Glenn Murray’s record for most goals from a Brighton player in a single Premier League season.

He seemed certain to surpass the 22 of Michael Robinson, which remains the highest total in a top flight campaign if you accept Sky Sports did not invent football in 1992.

We say seemed, because Pedro has since suffered a hamstring injury. The club have not publicly put a timeframe on his return, leaving Seagulls supporters to firmly cross fingers that it is weeks rather than months.

What makes Pedro such a dangerous player is his multifaceted scoring ability and that was in evidence through his five January 2024 goals.

Nobody needs any introduction to how clinical the Brazilian is from the penalty spot. Two successful conversion at Sheffield United made it a perfect 10/10 for Pedro from 12 yards this season.

Not a single goalkeeper has got close to keeping a Pedro penalty out, either. He has the unerring ability to send each and every opposition custodian diving the wrong way.

For a club who have long specialised in missing penalties – to the point ~~Gus Poyet~~ He Who Must Not Be Named used to hide behind the dugout at Withdean whenever one was awarded – Pedro is an absolute marvel.

He is also remarkably good in the air and at poaching goals. Think of a Brazilian footballer and you picture flicks, tricks, superb close control and the ability to make magic happen out of nothing.

Pedro can do all that, of course. His hat-trick goal against the Blades was the result of a sublime first touch and a clinical finish from outside the box.

But he also possesses the aerial ability of a traditional English target man and a fox-in-the-box nature. The first of those skills earned him his opening goal at Stoke, a brilliant towering header from a Pascal Gross cross.

The second of those skills then saw Pedro get himself into the right place at the right time to slide home a square Jan Paul van Hecke pass and complete his brace against the Potters.

At only 22-years-old, it is scary to think just how good Pedro will be when he hits his peak in five years. Too good for Brighton, one unfortunately suspects.

Gross took second place in January 2024 Player of the Month, largely based on his performance at the Bet365 Stadium. Without Der Kaiser, a relatively comfortable win could have ended very differently.

The pinpoint cross for Pedro was Gross’ second assist of the afternoon. He earlier delivered another perfect aerial ball into the box for Lewis Dunk to head home at the back post.

Gross also got the assist for the assist for the fourth Albion goal, releasing Van Hecke on a charge 70 yards up the pitch from centre back. The Dutch defender subsequently broke through the Potters defence before finding Pedro to apply the finish.

Third place in January 2024 Player of the Month went to Gross’ midfield partner, Billy Gilmour. He was the best player on the pitch, covering every blade of grass in the 0-0 draw at home to Wolves.

Against Sheffield United, Gilmour was central to the Albion racking up a remarkable 85 percent possession through the opening 30 minutes.

And he was the only Brighton player to come out of the 4-0 debacle at Luton Town with some sort of credit, having been the least worst of a very, very bad bunch.